The EDGE: Obesity should be considered, treated as a disease, AMA says

NIH creates database for supplement label information | New EHR system designed for grocery store dietitians | Chef starts nutritious food delivery service for cancer patients

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June 20, 2013

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Obesity should be considered, treated as a disease, AMA says
In a move that could focus more attention on the condition and pave the way for better treatment and reimbursement, the American Medical Association has voted to designate obesity as a disease. A council had recommended against doing so, partly because BMI, the usual metric for defining obesity, is flawed, but delegates overrode the recommendation. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (6/18), Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model) (6/18)

Dietary Health

NIH creates database for supplement label information
The NIH has created an online, searchable Dietary Supplement Label Database that includes ingredients, directions, health claims and warnings gleaned from labels on more than 17,000 supplements. Natural Products Insider (6/17)

New EHR system designed for grocery store dietitians
Connect & Coach is an electronic health records system for grocery store dietitians to use in counseling clients, developing dietary plans and helping people manage chronic disease. Registered dietitian Lizzy Wentzel, who helped developed the system, says it can give dietitians more time with clients because patient information can be entered ahead of time. Today's Dietitian (6/2013)

Chef starts nutritious food delivery service for cancer patients
Houston-area chef Angela Anderson is revolutionizing the way area cancer patients eat with a food delivery program focused on providing nutritious, local food. "The food that we are making is to help combat [chemotherapy] side effects," said Anderson. "Fruits, vegetables, herbs [are] about half of the total makeup of the diet." KTRK-TV (Houston) (6/18)

Science & Research

U.S. sees lower metabolic syndrome rates, but risks persist
The overall rate of metabolic syndrome among Americans declined from 25.5% during the 1999-2000 surveys to 22.9% during 2009-2010, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. However, some metabolic syndrome markers, including bigger waist sizes and poor glucose control, are becoming more common in the U.S., researchers noted. Reuters (6/19)

Study: Weight may be influenced by obesity beliefs
An international study found participants who cited poor diet as the main culprit in obesity had lower BMIs than those who cited a lack of exercise. The findings were published in the journal Psychological Science. Yahoo/Asian News International (6/19)

Low vitamin D raises risk of arterial stiffness in diabetes
A review presented at The Endocrine Society meeting showed low vitamin D levels were associated with arterial stiffness in teens and adults with type 2 diabetes, but not in their counterparts without diabetes. MedPage Today (free registration) (6/19)

Fitness

Weights plus Tabatas create an effective and quick workout
An effective yet short workout includes weights and plyometric Tabatas, which are quick, fat-burning exercises that boost metabolism, says registered dietitian and fitness expert Mitzi Dulan. Tabatas do not require any equipment and can be done inside or outside. U.S. News & World Report/eat + run blog (6/17)

Institutional Foodservice

Survey: 90% say schools should help fight childhood obesity
A recent survey found that 90% of people want schools to play a role in preventing childhood obesity and 60% say schools should be leaders in the effort. The results of the survey, conducted on behalf of Kaiser Permanente, also found that 80% of respondents support new federal standards for school meals and most said they support education on healthy food and eating in schools. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model)/Science Now blog (6/19)